[\"Weareonlysofarsensibleofpublicevilsastheyrespectourprivateaffairs。\"——Livy，xxx。44。]
andthatthehealthfromwhichwefellwassoill，thatitselfrelievestheregretweshouldhaveforit。Itwashealth，butonlyincomparisonwiththesicknessthathassucceededit:wearenotfallenfromanygreatheight;thecorruptionandbrigandagewhichareindignityandofficeseemtometheleastsupportable:wearelessinjuriouslyrifledinawoodthaninaplaceofsecurity。Itwasanuniversaljunctureofparticularmembers，eachcorruptedbyemulationoftheothers，andmostofthemwitholdulcers，thatneitherreceivednorrequiredanycure。
Thisconvulsion，therefore，reallymoreanimatedthanpressedme，bytheassistanceofmyconscience，whichwasnotonlyatpeacewithinitself，butelevated，andIdidnotfindanyreasontocomplainofmyself。Also，asGodneversendsevils，anymorethangoods，absolutelypuretomen，myhealthcontinuedatthattimemorethanusuallygood;and，asIcandonothingwithoutit，therearefewthingsthatIcannotdowithit。
Itaffordedmemeanstorouseupallmyfaculties，andtolaymyhandbeforethewoundthatwouldelse，peradventure，havegonefarther;andI
experienced，inmypatience，thatIhadsomestandagainstfortune，andthatitmustbeagreatshockcouldthrowmeoutofthesaddle。Idonotsaythistoprovokehertogivemeamorevigorouscharge:Iamherhumbleservant，andsubmittoherpleasure:letherbecontent，inGod’sname。AmIsensibleofherassaults？Yes，Iam。But，asthosewhoarepossessedandoppressedwithsorrowsometimessufferthemselves，nevertheless，byintervalstotastealittlepleasure，andaresometimessurprisedwithasmile，sohaveIsomuchpowerovermyself，astomakemyordinaryconditionquietandfreefromdisturbingthoughts;yetI